Grammy-nominated singer BJ The Chicago Kid has served up a hearty helping of Gravy, his new collaborative album with producer Yeti Beats.
The 15-track album was produced live at Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, where Al Green recorded Let’s Stay Together and I’m Still in Love with You.
“This project is a dream manifested into reality for me,” Yeti Beats previously said. “I had the idea of producing a record influenced by the music of my favorite soul singer, Al Green, and recording it with a live band. Traveling to Memphis to record in his studio was an immense honor for all of us.”
The live instrumentation for this album was performed by The Indications, a band led by vocalist Durand Jones.
BJ The Chicago Kid signed to RCA Records in May via a joint venture with Yeti Beats’ Reach The World Records, teasing listeners with savory samples of Gravy.
The first two tastes of Gravy were “Forgot Your Name” featuring Cory Henry, followed by “Liquor Store In The Sky” featuring Freddie Gibbs.
Two additional songs, “Spend The Night” with Coco Jones, and “Long Time,” added a creamy richness to the album.
The first of the pair, which is catching steam on TikTok, debuted at No. 30 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. It’s No. 29 at the time of publication.
Gravy, as a whole, is filling and satisfying. It covers everything from staying consistent and committed to a special kind of love (as seen in “Never Change” featuring Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire) to songs like “Who Cares,” which highlights how life becomes meaningless without the one person you want to share it with.
BJ The Chicago Kid records alongside two other women in music for Gravy, including Chlöe and Andra Day. “Honey” with Chlöe is a sweet concern for indulging in love.
Meanwhile, “Crazy Love,” with Day, is a song about unequivocal devotion through tough times that draws comparison to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s duets.
Other special guests on Gravy include Robert Glasper, a Grammy-winning musician.
“Gravy smothers, covers, and makes everything taste better. The album Gravy is the persona of what the new cool is. It’s that feeling when you’re at your absolute best, got on your best clothes, exuding confidence in every step and word,” said BJ The Chicago Kid.
He added, “This project embodies the very essence of how you carry yourself, how you assert your authority, and how you rise to the occasion. In essence, it’s the soul of the music, and in turn, the music becomes the gravy that defines me.”
Gravy is BJ The Chicago Kid’s first album since 1123, released in 2019.
Listen to BJ The Chicago Kid’s new album Gravy below.